Method of and machine for sole fitting



March 14, 1933. A A E; 1,901,140

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR SOLE FITTING Filed May 14, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig 2. I

March 14, 1933. A. BATES 130L140 METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR SOL-E FITTING 22 Fig&

IIIA

I 107 I A mg 12 14!! w W 360 or a so-called bottom channel) which can'be 'most readily closedand is most likely to remain permanently closed, while the shank portion of the shoe, which is not sub ect to I wear, is provided with an American or edge channel whereby substantial feathering (or shank reducing) and the consequent production of a light edge at that part is made practicable without unduly weakening the seam.

A further advantage of an American channel inthe shank is that, in the case of Louisheeled shoes, the channel may be made to blend readily with the flap since the flap and the channel lip may both readily be made of the same thickness where they join.

In view of the foregoing it isone'object of the present inventionto provide for channeling a sole with a bottom or face channel at one part of the sole and an edge channel at another part of the sole at a single continuous operation, thus doingaway with the i V necessity for practicing the present expensive method of transferring a sole from one machine to another when the sole is to be channeled with two types of channeling.

To thefaccomplishment of the above object, the invention, in one aspect, prov des a novel. method of sole ch'annelmg whlch consists-in relatively moving a sole andmeans for channeling a sole to form a continuous channel in the sole, and changing the relation between the sole'and the channeling means during the continuous channeling operation in such a manner as to effect face or bottom channeling in one portion of the sole and edge nel in the sole margin, and subsequently tiltingthe knife to position it so that its curved portion becomes effective to cutiinwardly ,from the grain surface of the sole, and continuing to feed-the sole past theknife to form an'English channelin another portion of the sole margin, the feed of the sole continuing also during the tilting'of the knife so that the knife cut will extend across the corner of the sole edge'and a gradual and even, blending of the American and English channels will be effected. As illustrated, the

above-described tilting of the knife takes place at thejunction between the shank and forepart at one side of a sole and a similar tilting of the knife, .but in the opposite direction, takes place at the junction of the forepart and shank at the other side of the sole so that anAmericanchannel is formed 11 at both sides of the shank and an English channel is formed around the forepart of the sole.

Another object of the invention is to provide an efficient and reliable machine for effecting two-type channeling of a'sole in a single continuous operation.

l/Vith this object in view the invention resides in the provision, in a channeling machine, of means for forming a continuous channel in a sole, and means for relatively adjusting the sole and the channeling means during the continuous channeling operation in a manner to produce a bottom channel, i. e., a channelin one side face of the sole, in one portion of the sole margin and an edge channel, i. e., a channel in the edge face of the'sole, in another portion of the sole margin. In the illustrated machine cooperating upper and lower feed Wheels are arranged to feed an unattached sole past channeling, instrumentalities which, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, comprise two knives, viz., a straightedged knife hereinafter called an American knife, and a curved knife hereinafter referred to as an English knife. In this embodiment of the invention the illustrated knives are both mounted upon a single knife carrier which is mounted with provision for tilting adjustment and upon which the American knife ismounted for sliding movement to and from position tovoperate'upon the sole. The illustrated knife carrier is tiltable about a center solocated with respect to the sole that tilting of the knife carrier will shift the English knife edgewise of the sole so as to cause the knife to cut across the corner of the sole edge. Treadle mechanism is provided whereby the knife carrier may be tilted at the will of the operator and as hereinafter explained the knife carrier is first tilted upwardly, after an American channel has been cut in the sole edge at one side of the shank, to position the English knife for cutting an English channel in the grain sideof the sole around the forepart, after which the knife carrier is tilted downwardly to reposition the knivesfor cutting an American channel in the sole edge along the opposite side of the shank portion of the sole. Also, as illustrated, provision is made for retracting the American knife from the sole when the knife carrier is tilted upwardly so that theAmerican knife will not interfere with the cutting of the English channel around the forepart of the sole and for returning the American knife into operative position when the knife carrier is tilted downwardly to resumethe cutting of an American channel in the shank of the sole. In accordance with alternative embodiments of the invention, however, the

American channel knife maybe omitted and the English knife (or a modification thereof) alone employed to out both the American and the English channels.

. already indicated it is often the custom to erfbnna shankreducing operation upon ag's'ole in order to give the appearance of a light edge in'the shank. Iti's alsethecustom with many manufacturers to" perform a feathering operation around th forepart of thesole "but in' such casesthe feathering-operation is frequently not intended primarily as a'thickness-redueing operation but is in} tended merely to flesh the surface (i."e. to remove shreds of leatherfromthe surface) without reducing'the 'thielmess er the sole to any-substantial extent.

To ada t the illustrated machine -to perform the shank reducin and fleshin operations just referred to the machine is further provided with a feather-edging knife arranged "to bevel or scarf the sole-margin at the fiesh'sidethereof, this knife being adj ustable at the will of the operator'to vary the angle ofthe bevel or: scarf produced by the knife and thereby to vary the thickness to which the edgeof' the sole is reduced. Another featureoif the invention, accordingly, is to be'recogni'zed in'th'e provision, in "a In'achi-ne for operating upon soles, of adjustable sole'edge reducing means, and mechanism for adjusting the reducing means during the operation of the machine to vary theexte'n't of sole'edge reduction independently of any variation in the thickness of the sole. As illustrated, the edge reducing means "comprise a skiving "knife mounted with provision for tilting adjustment and connected with the mechanism for tilting the channeling "knives so that when the latter are tilted to change the type of channeling the skiving knife will also be 'tilted to vary the extent of sole edge reduction. In the illustrated machine, alsogthe arrangement is such that the ski'vi'ng knife is also tilted so that, independently of the above-described tilting of theskiving knife the 'knifealso'i's tilted upon variation in the thickness'of thesole'rnarginto maintain uniform the thickness -of the sole edge produced by the edge reducing operation.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view, in front elevation, of 'so much of a so-called McKay 'channelingrnachine as is necessary-to-il-lnstrate'the application of the present invention thereto Fi'gnQ is a view similar to Fig. 1 butshow ing the channel knives in a difierent position Fig. 3 is a-front elevational v'iewon a reduced scale of certain of'the parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and ofc'er'tain other parts including a feather edging knife; V Fig. 4 isan end e'levational view as seen fro'm the left of themachine of certain parts shown in Fig. 3; r

Fig. 5 1s airagmentary cross-sectional view of 'the 'fore'part of a sole showing an English type channel formed in the margin "ofits grain sideand showin the margin of its Fig] 6 ise fr gmentary erosssetienal l view er theshank portionof the soles in Fig-e, showing an-mnerieant'ypechan e1 out inwardly fremthe soleedge showing the sole margin reduced scarfing or feathering to a greater extent tha'n in Fig.5;

Fig. 7 is'adetailed elevationalview, partially broken away, of a channel knife'having a grooving knife attached thereto Figs: 8 and 9 are conventional views are modified form of "channel knife shawingthe knife i-ndifierentpositions and illustrating the mode of operation of theknifeupon sole;- and v i e I Figs. 10 and 11 are conventionalviews illustrating alternative means for the purpose of'e'fi'ectin-g two-type channeling. The machi'ne'which has been'selected for illustrative purposes is a machine of the type known as ldcKay channeler, such a mach ne being disclosed, for example, in

United States Letters Patent 'No. 663,050,

granted Dec. 4, 1900-, upon application of C. P. Stanbon. The illustrative-machine comprises a frame '10, a lower feed wheel 12 carried by a horizontal feed wheel'sha'ft- 14, an adjustableedgegage16 (Fig. 2) and an upper feed orpr'esser wheel 18 carried by a shaft 20 (Fig. 3) "j-ournalecl in head 22 which .is' normally" pressed downwardly against a stop 24 on the "fr a1ne 1Oarranged to prevent'thetwo feed wheels from actually engaging each other. The head 22'with the upperfeed-wh'eel-18 is adapted to'be raised by means of a treadle (not shown) to permit a soleto beinserted betweenthe feed wheels and treadle mechanism (not shown') maybe I employed for adjusting the edge gage tra-ns versely" of the direction of workfee'd while the-sole is being fed to determine the depth, and location of the channel. The abovedescribed parts, with the exception o'fth'e' edgegag'e, are of substantiallythe same construction and they are operated in the'same manner as corresponding parts disclosed in the above-mentioned Letters Patent 0. 663,050, to which reference may belied for details of construction not herein specifically described. The illustrated edge gage is is sup-portedby a slide 17 "by means otwhich channel knife while the knife l lis shaped.

like the usual sO-c'alIed American "channelknife. "In Fig. 1 thetwo knives-are shown ascdoperating in the cutting of an Ameri can channel andin' Fig. 2 the knife at ache is shown as 'op'erating independently of the knife 44 to cut an English channel. It. is to be understood, however, that, if desired, the knife 44 may be omitted-and the knife 36 only. (or preferably .a somewhat modified form of this knife such .as that shownin Figs. 8 and 9) maybe employed for thecutting of both American and English channels in the same sole. a I 1 For the purpose of enabling. the "knives 36 and 44 to be used in the cutting of both American and English channels-Mina, sole; these knives are both supported by. a knife, carrier 28. (Figs; 1 and 2'). -of improved construction which is employed in place of-the channelknife carrier of the machine shown in the-patent referred to. The improved knife carrier 28 herein shown is formed at the lower end of a slide 30. (Fig. ,3), which is mounted for up-and-down adjustment in a guideway in the head 22, a screw 31 being providedby which this adjustment may be effected. The knife carrier 28 is provided with an arcuate guideway 32 curved about-a center indicated at 33 in Fig. 1. In the guide way 32 there is mounted for movement a knife segment 34 upon which is fixed achan nel knife 36 having its edge curved (except for a relatively short straight portion at'the tip of the knife), to form theusual Englishtype channel. Thesurfaceof the knife seg ment 34, remote from the centerof its iguideway is provided with gear teeth. 38(Fig. 1).

thatmeshwith the teeth of a toothed segmental rocker 4O fixed to a spindle42 carried by hearings on the knife carrier 28. The

above-described arrangement of parts is such that when the English channelknife .36 has been moved by rotation of the rocker 40 into its straight'tip portion lies in the path of the channel knife '44 which has' a straight blade adapted to cut an American-type channel.

In-other words when the knife 36 is posi-v tioned as shown in Fig. 1,'its tip is no longer appreciably sloped but ispractically parallel to the sole surface.

To enable the rocker 40 and the knife seg- 'ment 34 to be moved into the'two'positionsabove referred-to, the spindle 42 is extended rearwardly of the knife carrier 28 and fixed to this rearward extension is a lever arm 46;

' which isconnectedto the upperend ofa treadle rod 48. The lever arm 46 is normally held in an upwardly extending position by means of atreadle spring 50 arranged to press upwardly upon the treadlejrod 48... Up-

ward movement of the leverarm 46 (under ited by an adjustablestop 52 and downward movement of .thearm 46 (under action of thetreadle) is limited by an adjustable stop '54, the stops 5 2 .and 54 being carried by lugs.

provided with a straight guideway 58 (approximately horizontal when the lever arm 46 is in contact with the upper adjustable stop 52 as indicated in Fig. 1) in which is mounted for reciprocation, toward and from the edge of a sole positioned in the machine,

a slider '60. which carries the aforesaid straight-edged channel knife 44 adapted to co-operate withthe knife 36 in cutting an American channel. The straight guideway 58 and the edge of the straight-edged knife 44 are both parallelto the straight portion of A the edge of the curved channel knife 36. An upstanding ear 62 on the slider is pivotally connected,'by means of a link164, with one end of a lever 66 that is fixed to the front end of the spindle 42.. The arrangement is such that rotation of the segmental rocker 40 in a direction to move the English channel knife .36 to the'position shown in Fig.

1 will advance the straightrchannel knife 44.

into the path of the sole (as indicated in Fig. 1) as the knife 44 is being swung andretracted into said position by the knife segment 34 during the movement'of the latter. While manual means has been shown and described for'shifting the positions of the channeling'knives the invention is not limited to the provision of channel knife shifting means which is either wholly or partially under the control of the operator.

The aforementioned center 33 about which the arcuate guideway 32 for the knife segment 34 is curved is so located (for the particular shape ofknife herein shown) that when the English channel knife 36 is swung to position for co-operating. with the straight V knife for cutting an American channel the knife 36 is also somewhat withdrawn from the sole so that its curved portion is ineifec-- tive during the cutting ofthe American channel.'; I v The operation of theinachine thus far described is asfollowsrAn unattached. outsole A( Fig. 6) is entered between the feed wheels 12 and 18 in'the manner usual in McKay English channel knife 36 is horizontal and the American channel knife 44'is alsoho'riportion of the Englishchannel knifeand behind it, regarded in the direction of feed (see Fig. 1) The operator starts the machine and 'zontal and is in the same plane as the straight the two knives cut an American channel (shew-1. at B, ign the shank por o o thfl 591e, the English knife cutting the marginal portion ofthe channel because it is in front (regarded in the direction of feed) of th t Part of he dge. otthe merican kn e which is carest the sole edge face (see Fig. 1). At this time the curved portion of the English knife 36 is withdrawn so that it does not cut. When the junction of the shank and fot patt rea hed. the opera-t d pr ss s the treadlc with the result that as the sole continuesits travel, the American knife 14L- is gradually withdrawn by lateral tilting movement completely from contact with the sole and the English knife 36 is gradually tilted about the center 33 and moved inward- 1y @ClgQWiSQ Of the sole so that as shown in Fig. 2 not only is the angular position of the changed but the knife is also moved sufficiently toward the middle of the sole to make the curved English channel cut shown at Gin Eig. 5. The result ofthis adjustment oft-he knife 36 isto modify theshape of the channel cutin the vicinity ofthe ball line so that when the English channel has been made at the forepart of the sole theAmerican channel B and the English channel C will be blended together. 'When the shank is reached at the other side. of the sole the treadleis released and a reverse tilting of the knife. takes place for the purpose of form: ing a blend between the English channel in the fel'epart and the American channel in the shank portion at this side of the sole.

For the purpose of reducing the thickness ofthe sole edge the illustrated machine is also prey-ided with a knife constructed and arranged to reinOYe a chip from the marginal portion of the sole (for instance from the edge of one of its faces) and provision is also made for changing the inclination of the knife during the operation of the machine. \Vhile the mechanism for effecting edge thickness reduction is herein shown in combination with channeling means it is within the scope of the invention to provide a machine adapted for reducing the thickness of the edge of a sole w thout performing any other operation time the s l As shown Fig. 4;, a bracket 71 is bolted to the frame 10 and to the upper end of the bracket is fixed a carrier 73. In order to pr y de for vertical adjustment, the carrier {Z3 connected to the bracket 71 by a tongueand-grooye connection and can be adjusted yertic ally by turning the knob 75 of a. screw 77 after which the carrier 73 may be gripped in adp sted position by tightening a bolt 79.

At the rear of the carrier 73 is a bearing for the reception of a vertical pivot-pin 81 to the upperend of which is fir-red anloscillatbracket 8?) that is provided with bearings for a l1or17ontal spindle85. To the front end of the spmdleS isfixed a knife-clamp 87 in which is secured a reducing or. feathering knife 91, the cutting edge of which lies.

behind the channeling knives.

The left-hand end (as viewed in Fig. 3) of the planeedge of the illustrated feathering knife 91 located in the line of the axis of the spindle 85, so that when the spindle is turned on its axis (as will be described later) the edge of the knife will rotate about itslefthand end. In practice'the left-hand end of the edge of the feathering knife is sometimes extended and turned down towards the feed wheel 12, or may actually extend between the adjacent rows of the teeth of the feed wheel. By raising or lowering the carrier 73 the axis of the knife-carry1ng spindle 85, and

therefore the axis of rotation of the feathering knife 91, may be correspondingly raised or lowered to facilitate adjustment of'the' knife. Further, by extending the edge of the feathering knife 91 to the left of its axis of rotation that extended part. of the knife will desired to sharpen the knifeilll the belt 95' is releasedand the oscillating bracket 83 swung in clockw se direct on to move, the knlfe 91 towards the-observer (as viewed in Fig. 4) into a position in which it can readily be removed from the'knife clampf87l In order to proride for the desire-d movement ofthe feathering knife 91 the following mechanism is provided. Fixed to the fcathering-knife carrying spindle by .an

approximately upright pivot pin is ashort" lever 101 having a ball end (Fig. 8). The ball end of the lever 101 is received in a U- shaped socket on the. endof a lever 103 that is fixed on a pivot pin 105 mounted (eccentriccally for adjustment) in a hearing in the top,

of a bracket 107 fixed to the rear of the frame 10 of the machine. The segmental rocker spindle 42 (which, as already described, is carried by the head 22) has fined to it; near its rear end, a bent lever 10 9to which is adjustably connected, by a screw llli the upper end of a link 1113; the lower end ofwhich' is pivoted to the lever 103.

It will be observed that, as a result of the above-described construction and arrangement, the feathering knife 91 will be rocked slightly about its axis of movement e., about its left-hand end in the particular construction being described) if there is a change in the thickness of the work as the latter progresses through the machine; if thework becomes thicker the upper feed or presser roll j 18 will'rise and will carry upwardly with it the left-hand end of the head 22 and consequently the spindle 42,which latter-in turn will, through the link 113, rock the lever 103 upwardly and the lever 103 will,through the lever 101, rock the feathering knife 91 to increase the amount of edgethickness reduction. The various parts are so proportioned,

connected and adjusted that, unless manually moved as will be described hereinafter, the

feathering knife will always reduce the edge of the workto a definlte uniform thickness It will further be observed that if the spindle42 be oscillated (as occurs under ac l]l0110f the treadlemechanism in changing from an American to an English channel and vice versa) tlllSWlll also cause a rocking of nessof the edge of the work (little more ina the feathering knife; the construction and arrangement arej such' as to give around the fore-part, in Conjunction with the English channel, a very small reduction in the thick- .deed than suihcient to remove projecting shreds of, leather) and to give at the shank. n conjunction with theAmerican channel, an appreciable reduction in the thickness ofthe edge of the work so as to produce there a so-called. light .or thin edge shank, Thus, through the action of the treadle mechanism above referredto. the angle of the feathering knife may be adjusted by the operator to vary the amount ofsole'edge reduction while the machine is running at normal speed. In Figs. 5 and 6 the parts of the sole indicated by dotted lines and marked D and E are the chips or trimmings that are removed from the forepart andthe shank respectively by the use of a particular feathen ing knife adjusted in a particular way (the effective left-hand end of thecutting edge of the feather knife being in l ne with its axis of rotation) in the illustrative machne.

Many manufacturers desire a wide and shallow feathering scarf round the forepart of the sole (as the scarf D, Fig. 5) and a narrow [and deep scarf in the waist, this latter scarf being as deep as or deeper than the scarf .E 1n F g. 6, and about-half or less than half the width of that scarf. Such a result can be obtained by the use of a feathering knife that extends about equally on each side of its'axis of rotation (the cutting edge of the knife passing through the line of the said axis), by adjusting the carrier 73. so that the said axis isslightly below the level of the top of the feed wheel 5 (i; e. belowthe bottom surface of the sole to be feathered), and by ferred to is indicated in Fig. 3 by the dotted lines 7 6 in conjunction with the full lines of the knife. 91. I r i i It is to be observed that the carrier 73 can be raised or lowered to bring the axis of rotation of the feathering knife on, above or below the level of the feed wheel 12 (i. e. ofthe bottom of the work); that there may be used a feathering knife of such a width that the left-hand end of its edge may extend (laterally of themachin'e) to, short of, orb'eyond its axis of rotation; that the aforementioned edge gage can be adjusted laterally of the machine to vary the position in the machine of the edge of the work; and that by adjusting the screw 93 the operative position of the feathering knife about its pivot 81 may be varied. Bymeans of these adjustments a considerable variation in edge-thickcan be obtained by suitable variation of these variables.

If it be desired to provide for grooving in addition to channeling this can readily be done in the illustrative machine. One'convenientconstruction providing for waist grooving is indicated in Fig. 7. The shank 121 of the American channel knife 44 is provided at its rear with a horizontal recess 123 for the reception of the shank 133 of a grooving knife 131 which is semi-circular in shape, the upper edges of the grooving knife being ona level with the cutting edge of the American channeling knife 44. The groovingknife 131 is located behind and as close as possible to the knife 1 1. With the construction and" arrangement indicated a groove is cut at the base of the American channel. 1 The grooving knife is of course withdrawn along with the American channel knife.

It may be of advantage to give the channeling knives a rapid reciprocatory or jogging movement of small amplitude, in the line of work feed, in order to assist in the cutting of the channel especially if there be,

channeled sole by the use of two knives a somewhat similar result may be obtained by the use of one knife only as will now be described. For this purpose a knife such as that shown at 360 in Figs. 8 and 9 may be employed,the knife 360 beinga compromise between the usual English and the usual American channel knife. As shown, the knife 360 iscurved in a curve of large radius throughout ,or practically throughout its length, the part adjacent to its point being perhaps more nearly straight than the rest of the knife. This knife is mounted in a slide movable in an are as already described so-that inone position it will cut a rather unusually flattened English channel and in a second position will cut a channel of the American type although somewhat curved instead of straight. When putinto this second positionthe knife may (eg. by suitable disposition of the center of the are) also have its point moved somewhat toward the median line of the sole so that it will out an American channel the base of which is further from the edge ofthe sole thanis. thebase of the English channel which it, cuts in its other position. Such a knife position changing mechanism may be controlled manually or automatically as may be desired.

Another single-knife construction for channeling is illustrated in Fig.11, in this case also the one knife 440 being a compromise. The greater part of the edge of the knife 440 is straight like an American channel knife but the right-hand end is curved as shown at 4&2 into the English shape to adapt it to cut through the grain surface of the sole. The edge guide l6is so adjusted that when it is pressed to the left to the fullest extent (as it is normally) the sole will be held in such a position that the straight part only of the knife will be active to cut the sole and therefore an American channel will be cut (in thewaist), When the forepart is reached the edge guide 16 is moved (as by treadle mechanism hereinbefore mentioned) to the right to a predetermined extent and consequently the sole, being pushed to the right 3 toifollow it, is as it were pushed further on to the knife so that the curved part 442 of the knife also is active and an English channel is out. It will be observed, however, that in this case the English channel is deeper than the American channel. With this construction the hereinbefore described rocking feathering knife may readily be used by coupling it to the edge guide treadle.

An alternative mechanism according to the invention admitting of obtaining with one knife two different shapes of channel at different parts of the one sole will now be described with reference to the diagram of Fig. 10. In this case the knife 450 is a straight-edged channel knife of the usual American type adapted to cut an American channel as usual in the type of machine re- 1 fer-red to. The machine is provided, however (in addition to the usual feed wheel 12 and presser roll 18), with'an auxiliary presser roll 180 adapted to act when desiredon the grain surface of the sole margin and shaped to bend that margin in a curve in such a way that the knife 450 will then cut into the bent sole from the grain surface insteadof from the edge and will cut a channel which when the sole margin is agam straightened appears be thrown into action manually or automatically whenever it is desired to out such an English channel.

, Conveniently the auxiliary presser rol'l 180,

when depressed to act upon the work, is de-. 70

.p-ressed positively to a predetermined level,

notin action lock-ed in position with its upper surface at the level of and forming a lateral extension of the feed wheel 12. 230

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: I i i 1. That improvement in methods of channeling soles which consists in relatively move5 ing a sole and means for channeling a sole to form acontinuous channel in the sole, and changing the relation between the sole and thechanneling means during the continuous channeling operation in such a m'anner as toeo locate the channel in the sole face in one portion of the sole and in the sole edge in another portion of the sole. 2. That improvement in methods of channeling soles which consistsin relatively mov- 9 5 ing a sole and means for channeling a sole to form a continuous channel in the sole, and shifting the channeling means edgewise of the sole during the continuous channeling operation to form the channel in the sole face i; in one portion of the sole and to form the channel in the sole edge in another portion of the sole.

3.. That improvement in methods of chanj neling soles which consists in relatively movl0 mg a sole and a channeling tool positioned to form a channel of a particular cross-sectional shape in one portion of the sole, shifting said tool into position to form a channel of a different cross-sectional shape, and r10 thereafter continuing said relative movement to form in another portion of the sole a channel ofv the cross-sectional shape of the first channel but continuous therewith.

l; That improvement in methods of chan- I neling soles which consists in relatively moving a sole and a channeling tool to form an edge channel in one portion of the sole,

changing the position of the tool and thereafter continuing the relative movement of, the tool and the sole to form a bottom channel in another portion of the sole, the shifting of the tool being timed with respect to the rate of relative movement of the sole and the tool to effect a gradual blending together of the twochannels.

5. That improvement in methods of channeling soles which consists in relatively positioninga sole and a channel knife for the ,cutting of a channel in theface of the sole, use

relativelymoving the soleand the knife to for the cutting of a channel in the edge of the r 8. That improvement in methods of neling soles which consists in feeding a sole past an English channel knife while the tip sole, and thereafter continuing relatively to move the sole and the knife to form a channel .of the last-mentioned type in another portion of the sole.

6. Thatimprovement in methods of channeling soles which consists in positioning a channel knife for the cutting of an edge channel in a sole, feeding. the sole past the knife to cutan edge channel in one portion of the sole, repositioning the knife for the cutting of a bottom channel, and thereafter continuing to feed the solepast the knife to cutin another portion of the sole a bottom channel continucu'swith said edge channel.

7 That improvement in methods of chan neling soles which consists in positioning a channeling knife for the cutting of an American'ohannel in themargin of a sole, feeding the sole past the knife to form an American channel in one portion of the sole, shifting the knife into position for the cutting of an English channel in the sole margin, and continuing to feed the sole past the knife both during and after saidshifting movement to form another portion of the sole margin an English channel connected with the American channel. a

chanof the knife is operatively positioned to cut inwardly from the sole edge to form an American channel in the sole, shifting the knife into another position wherein the knife isadapted to cut inwardly from the face of the sole while continuing to feed the sole, and feeding the sole further after shifting the knifethereby forming an English channel in another portion of the sole connected With the American channel. i

9. That improvement in methods of channeling soles which consists in feeding a sole past a channel knife to form an American channel along the margin at one side of the shank portion of the sole, changingtheposition of the knife and continuing to feed the sole to form an English channel around the margin of the forepart of the sole continuous with said American channel, and again changing the position of the knife and continuing to feed the sole to form at the opposite side of the, shank portion of the sole an American channel continuous with said English channel;

10. That improvement in methods of channeling soles which consists in feeding a sole past a knife positioned to cut a channel in the edge face of the sole, tilting the knlfe to continue the channel across the corner of the sole edge and into one side face of the sole,

and thereafter continuing to feed the sole pas-t continue the channel across'the corner of the sole edge and into one side face of the sole, feeding the margin of the for'epart of the sole past the knife to extend the channel in said side face around the forepa-rt of the sole, tilting the knife in the opposite direction to continue the channel across the corner of the sole edge and into the edge face of the sole, and feeding the marginal'portion of the sole at the opposite side of the shank past the knife to continue the channel in the edge face at said side of the shank.

12. In a channeling machine, means for forming a continuous channel in a sole, and means for relatively positioning the sole and the channeling means during the continuous channeling operation in amanner to cause the channeling means to enter difierentfaces of the sole at different portions of the sole margin.

13. In a channeling machine, means for forming a continuous channel in a sole, and means for relatively positioning the sole and the channeling means edgewise of the sole during the continuous channeling operation to form the channel in one side face of the forming a continuous channel in a sole, and

means for positioning the channeling means edgewise of the sole durlng the continuous channeling operatlon to vary the cross-secv tional shape of the channel in different portions of the sole. 1 v

15. In a channeling machine, a channel knife capable of being positioned to out both American and English channels, and operator-controlled means for adjusting the knife during operation of the machine.

16. In a channeling machine, channeling means, means for feeding a sole to the channeling means, and means for operating the channeling means while the sole is being fed to form along the shank and forepart of the sole a continuous channel which is of one cross-sectional shape in the shank and of anin'g means and the work in another direction to change the shape of channelbeing formed.

18. In a channeling machine, adjustable means for channeling and grooving a sole, means for feeding a piece of work to said means, and means for changing the adjust ment of said means while the sole is being fed to vary the shape of channel being formed.

19. In a channeling machine, a channel knife adapted in one position to cut an American channel and in another positionto cut an English channel in a sole, means for feeding a sole margin progressively past the knife, and means for shifting the knife from one po sition to another to vary the type of channel cut thereby.

'20. In a channeling machine, a channel knife, andmeans for adjusting the position of the knife while a sole is being fed past it to effect edge channeling in one portion of the sole and bottom channeling in another portion of the sole. 7 V I 21. In a sole channeling machine, a sole support,.an adjustable channel knife, and

means for adjusting the knife between two positions in one of which the knife is adapted to cut a channel in the edge of a sole on said support and in the other of which the knife is adapted to cut a channel in one side of said sole.

22. In a sole channeling machine, a tiltable channel knife, and means for tilting the knife from a position for channeling the sole edge to a position for channeling one side of the sole.

23. In a sole channeling machine, an adjustable channel knife normally positioned to cut inwardly from the edge of a sole, and means for repositioning the knife to cut inwardly from one side of the sole.

24. In a sole channeling machine, an adjustable channel knife normally positioned to cut inwardly from the edge of a sole, manually operable means for adjusting the knife to cut inwardly from one side of the sole, and means for restoring the knife to normal position.

25. In a sole channeling machine, a sole support, an adjustable knife carrier, a knife on said carrier adapted in one position of the carrier to cut a channel in the edge of a sole on said support and in another position of the carrier to cut a channel in one side-of the sole, means normally holding the carrier in one of said positions, and operator-controlled means for shifting the knife. carrier into the other of said positions.

26. In a channeling machine, two channeling knives normally positioned to co-operate in the cutting of an American channel in a sole, and means for repositioning said knives so that one only will operate thereafter to cut an English channel in thesole.

27. In a channeling machine, two knives capable of being positioned with portions of their cutting edges substantially in line for the cutting of an American type channel in a sole, and means for retracting one of said knives from the sole and repositioning the other knife for the cutting of an English type channel in the sole. I

28. In a channeling machine, a channel knife having a straight cutting edge adapted to cut inwardly from the edge of a sole to form an American channel in the sole, a second channel knife having a partially straight and partially curved cutting edge normally positioned to co-operate with the first knife in cutting the American channel, and means for withdrawing the first knife from the sole and repositioning the second knifetocut inwardly from one side of the soleto form an English channel in the sole.

29. In a sole channeling machine, means forsupporting and feeding a sole, a knife shaped to cut an English channel in a sole, a second knife shaped to cut an American channel in a sole, and means for moving said knives into position to cooperate in cutting an American channel in one portion of a sole being fed through the machine and for retracting the second knife from the sole and repositioning the first knife for the cutting of an English channel in another portion of the sole. v i

30. In a sole channeling machine, means for supporting and feeding a sole, a knife shaped to cut an English channel in a sole, a tiltable carrier for said knife, a second knife movably mounted upon said carrier and shaped to cut an American channel in sole, means for tilting the carrier from a position in which the first knife is adapted to cut inwardly from the edge of a sole on said supporting means to a position in which said knife is adapted to cut inwardly from one side of the sole, and mechanism constructed and arranged to move the second knife relative'ly to the knife carrier into position to co-operate with the first knife in cutting inwardly from the edge of the sole and to retract the second knife from the sole when the first knife is positioned for cutting inwardly from the'face of the sole.

31. In a channeling machine, means for feeding a sole, a channel knife adapted to be positioned for cutting a channel in the edge of the sole as it is being fed,'means for vary ing the location of the channel widthwise of the sole edge, and means for shifting the knife into position to cut a channel in one side of the sole.

32. In a channeling machine, means for feeding a sole, a channel knife adapted to be positioned for cutting a channel in one side face of a sole as it is being fed, means for varying the location of the channel inwardly from the sole edge,and means for shifting the knife into position to cut a channel in the edge face ofthe sole.

33. In a sole channeling machine, means for feeding a sole,means for forming in the shank portion of the sole an American channel andvfor forming in, the forepart of the sole an English channel continuouswith the American channel, and means L01 reducing the thickness ofthe feather produced by the channeling operation. I

34;. In a sole channeling machine, means for feeding a sole, means for forming in the shank portion of the sole an American channel and for forming in the forepart of the solean English channel continuous with the American channel, a knife for reducing the edge of the feather produced by the channeling operation, and means responsive to variations in sole thickness for adjusting the reducing knife to form a reduced feather of uniform thickness. V i

35. In a sole channeling machine, means for feeding a sole, means for forming in the shank portion of the sole an American chan- V nel and for forming in the forepart of the sole an English channel continuous with the American channel, an angularly adjustable feather edging knife for beveling the, edge ofthe feather produced by the channeling operation, and means responsive to variations in sole thickness for angularly adjusting the feather edging knife to produce a feather of uniform thickness. d

36. In a sole channeling machine, means for feeding a sole, means for forming in the shank portion of the sole an'American channel and for forming in the forepart of the sole an English channel continuous with the American channel, a feather edging knife for beveling the edge of the feather produced by the channeling operation, and operatorcontrolled means for adjusting-the reducing knife to vary the extent of feather reduction.

37. In a channeling machine, an adjustable channel knife for cutting channels of different types in the margin of a sole, an adjust able reducing knife for reducing to different extents the edge thickness of the sole,

' and connections between said knives conto vary the extent of edge thickness reduction in accordance with the type of channel being formed by the channel knife.

39. In a sole channeling machine, means for feeding a sole, means for forming in the shank portion of the sole an American chan nel and for forming in the forepart 'of the sole an English channel continuous with the for beveling the edge of the feather produced by the channeling operation, and connections between the reducing knife and the channel i knife constructed and arranged to modify the action of the reducing knife upon the sole in accordance with variations in the type of channeling produced by the channel knife.

40. In a channeling machine, a channel knife capable of adjustment to out channels of difierent types in a sole, a reducing knife capable of adjustment to reduce the sole edge thickness to different extents, and connections between the channel knife and the reducing knife constructed and arranged to adjust the latter for reducing the sole edge thickness to a predetermined extent when the channel knife is adjusted to cut one type of channel and to. reduce the sole edge thickness 7 to a different extent when the channel knife is adjusted to out another type of channel.

41. In a channeling machine, channeling means, mechanism foradjusting the channeling means to form an American channel 7 along one portion of the margin of a sole and to form an English channel along another portion of the sole margin, sole edge reducing means, and connections between said reducing means and the adjusting mechanism for the channeling means constructed and arranged to adjust the reducing means to provide maximum reduction at that portion of the solemargin where the American channel is formed.

12. In a channeling machine, an adjustable channel knife adapted in one position to cut an American type channel in one portion of a sole and in another position to cut an English type channel inanother portion of the sole, an adjustable reducing knife movable to and from position for making a substantial reduction in the edge thickness of the sole, and connections between the channel knife and the reducing knife constructed and arranged to'position the reducing knife for the making of a substantial reduction in sole edge thickness only when the channel knife is positioned to cut an American type channel. 43. In a machine for operating upon soles, adjustable sole edge reducing means, and mechanism operable for adjusting the reducing means during the normal operation of the machine to vary the extent of sole edge reduction independently of any variation in the thickness of the sole.

44. In a machine for operating upon soles, a feathering knife for beveling the edge of a sole, and mechanism for changing the angle of bevel of the cut made by the feathering knife during the normal operation of the ma- 1 a sole edge reducing knife capable of being ad usted by the operator during normal operation of the machine to vary the extent of edge reduction effected by the knife, and mechanism for adjusting the knife in accordance with variations in the thickness of the body portion of a sole being operated upon by the knife.

46. In a machine foroperating upon soles, a sole edge reducing knife, means for feeding a sole to the knife including a feed rollmovable in response to variations in the thickness of the work, a support for said roll, connections between said support and the reducing knife for adjusting the knife to vary the extent of sole edge reduction effected thereby in accordance with variations in thickness of the body portion of the sole, and mechanism operable through said connections while the machine is running at normal speed to change the adjustment of the knife.

47. In a machine for operating upon soles, a tiltable edge beveling knife, means for feeding a sole to the knife, means responsive to variations in the sole thickness for tilting the knife to maintain uniform thickness at the edge of the sole, and treadle-controlled mechanism for operating said means to tilt the knife.

48. In a machine for operating upon soles, adjustable sole edge reducing means, means for feeding a sole to the reducing means, means responsive to variations in sole thickness for adjusting the reducing means, and means operable while the machine is running at normal speed for adjusting the reducing means independently of variations in sole thickness.

49. That improvement in methods of fitting soles which consists in relatively moving a sole and means for channeling and edgereducing a sole to form a continuous channel in the sole and to reduce the edge thickness of the sole, and changing the relation between the sole and the channeling and edge-reducing means during a continuous channeling operation in such a manner as to effect different types of channeling and different degrees of sole edge reduction in different portions of the sole.

50. That improvement in methods of fit ting soles which consists in relatively positioning a sole and sole channeling and edgeredueing means for the cutting of a channel of a particular type and the effecting of a predetermined amount of reduction along the margin of the sole, relatively moving the sole and said means to cut a channel of said type and to effect said amount of sole edge reduction in one portion of the sole, relatively repositioning the sole and said means for the cutting of a channel of a different type and the effecting of a different amount of sole edge reduction, and thereafter continuing relatively to move the sole and said means to form a channel of the last-mentioned type and to effect the last-mentioned amount of sole edge reduction in another portion of the sole.

51. That improvement in methods of fitting soles which consists in feeding a sole past a channel knife and a beveling knife to cut a channel of a particular type in one portion of the sole margin and to bevel said portion of the sole margin at a particular angle, changing the position of said knives and feeding the sole past said knives as their positions are being changed to extend the channel and to extend the bevel while gradually changing the channel from one type to another and while gradually changing the angle of the bevel, and continuing tofeed the sole thereafter to out in another portion thereof a channel of the last-mentioned type blended with the first channel by said channel extension and to form a bevel blended with the bevel formed in, the first portion of the sole margin by said bevel extension.

52. Thatimprovement in methods of fitting soles which consists in feeding a sole past an English channel knife and a beveling knife while the tip of the knife is operatively positioned to cut inwardly from the sole edge to form an American channel in the sole and while the beveling knife is positioned to effect a substantial amount of sole edge reduction, shifting said knives into positions inwardly from the face of the sole and the beveling knife is adapted to effect a lesser amount of sole edge reduction, and feeding the sole further after shifting the knives to form in another portion of the sole an English channel connected with the American channel and a less sharply beveled face con nected with the more sharply beveled face.

53. That improvement in methods of fitting soles which consists in feeding a sole wherein the channel knife is adapted to cut past a channel knife and a beveling knife to form an American channel and a steeply inclined beveled face along one lateral margin of the shank portion of the sole, changing the position of said knives and continuing to feedthe sole to form an English channel around the margin of the forepart of the sole continuous with said American chan-' nel and a less steeply inclined beveled face, and again changing the position of said knives and continuing to feed the sole to form at the opposite lateral margin of the shank portion of the sole an American channel continuous with said English channel and a beveled face having an inclination corresponding to that of the beveled face at the lateral margin first operated upon.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. 

